2009
USTA
The USTA League Tennis Regulations and
Southern Regulations shall have full force and applicability at all levels of
play in USTA League Tennis, and Super Seniors in the state of Kentucky, and
there is no authority to modify, amplify, or change them by Local League
Coordinators, Community Tennis Associations, or committees.
USTA
The USTA Southern Section
A. STATE
REGULATIONS COMMITTEE
1. The
B. LOCAL
LEAGUES
1. Local Leagues shall be approved by USTA
2. An existing league level is defined as an
area that enrolls two or more teams per NTRP level. USTA 3.01A
3. Local League administrators, including Local
League Coordinators and Community Tennis Associations, are responsible for the
administration and the promotion of the USTA League Tennis Program in their
Local League area.
4. Local League Appointments
a. Local League Committees shall submit the
name of a candidate for local league coordinator to the State League
Coordinator.
b. The State League Coordinator shall forward the
name along with the recommendation to the Kentucky Adult League Committee.
c. The Local League Coordinator shall be appointed
for a period of one year and is subject to a yearly renewal as well as entering
into a service contract with USTA Kentucky. USTA
5. Local League Coordinators are required to
follow the current job description, which is subject to change each league
year.
6. Local Leagues are required and have the
authority to compose regulations that preside over local play. Local League
regulations shall not conflict with any existing National, Southern, or
7. Prior to the start of the Local League Season,
the Kentucky Adult League Committee must approve the local League Rules and
Regulations. Local League Rules and Regulations must be distributed to Team
Captains along with USTA, STA, and Kentucky Regulations before the League
Season begins, preferably during the Captain’s meeting. Copies of such
regulations may also be available on Local League Websites and by Email to team
captains.
8. The approved Local Leagues for the 2009 season
are: Ashland (ASH), Bowling Green (BG), Henderson (HEN), Pennyrile Area (HOP),
Lexington (LEX), Louisville (LOU),
9. Local League Coordinators and/or Schedulers
may not captain any USTA League Tennis team. Local League Coordinators and/or
Schedulers may be a non-playing captain, as long as it is at a different level
than they are playing.
10. A CTA may add a nominal fee to their
existing league fee, but the fee must first be approved by the SLC and the
Kentucky Adult League Committee. The CTA must request in writing prior to the
registration being opened for each league and/or season that it intends to add
a nominal fee, specifying the amount, which must be approved by the SLC and the
Kentucky Adult League Committee. Once approved, the amount of the nominal fee
as well as how the funds will be used will be published in the CTA’s local
league rules and regulations. At year end, an accountability form must be
submitted to the SLC to document how the funds were spent.
C. USTA
MEMBERSHIP
1. All players participating in USTA League
Tennis and/or Southern Combo and/or Super Seniors must be a current member of
the USTA for the entire league season.
2. Participants competing in State
Championships are required to have a current USTA membership throughout the
entire event.
D. SELF-RATING
The process
of self-rating shall be administered by TennisLink and the Southern Sectional
office. Players who do not have a computer rating on file in TennisLink shall
self-rate in accordance with the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP)
Guidelines and declare their self-rating on TennisLink when registering for a
team. Omission of information regarding a player’s tennis history will subject
the player, the captain and/or others who condoned inaccurate self-rating to
sanctions and disqualification. STA
3.01D(2)
E. FEES
1. State and Local League fees, as well as
Championship fees, shall be reviewed prior to each league year. Final fees
shall be established by the USTA Kentucky Management Committee acting upon the
recommendation of the SLC and the Kentucky Adult League Committee.
2. 2009 Minimum Fees:
i. USTA League Tennis Adult/Senior $22.00 (KY Head Tax $13.00)
ii. USTA League Tennis Mixed Doubles $17.00 (KY Head Tax $8.00)
iii. Southern Combo Doubles $17.00 (KY Head
Tax $8.00)
iv. Super Seniors $28.00 (KY State Championship)
F. TWO
TEAM NTRP LEVEL
1. A two team league is approved by USTA to
encourage growth in areas otherwise not able to field a three-team league at a
specific NTRP level.
2. Two team leagues are required to play a
minimum of three matches. USTA 3.01 H
(1).
G. ONE
TEAM NTRP LEVEL
1. A team cannot advance to Championship level
without playing a local league.
2. Local leagues that enroll less than the
required two teams per NTRP level may compete in the regular USTA league tennis
program by joining another existing Local League.
a. The State League Coordinator in conjunction
with the Local League Coordinators shall assign a team to a local league and
move the team to the appropriate league within TennisLink.
b. The assigned team will be required to travel
to all matches within the existing local league they are assigned, unless the
other teams within that local league agree to share the traveling.
c. The assigned team must abide by the Local
League Regulations and deadlines of the local league in which the team is
assigned.
d. In the case that two one team leagues join
together, both teams will be required to travel equally.
3. If two or more Local Leagues have only one
team at the same level, an Area Local League may be formed and played during
the “Championship weekend”. If another Local League has two or more teams at
this level, an area local league may not be played during a Championship,
unless determined by the SLC. NTRP levels in
4. Local League Coordinators must inform the
SLC of a single team league as soon as determined. The team will register
according to registration requirements approved by the Local League. Local
League Coordinators must be aware of registration deadlines in surrounding
local leagues. If a team does not meet the registration requirements for the
league they wish to enter, the Local League will not have to accommodate the
team.
5. All teams
participating in the 2009 Adult and/or Senior USTA League Tennis season must be
registered in Tennislink by April 15, 2009. A team is defined by National
Regulation 3.01 B. A team shall consist of a minimum of 8 players of the same
gender eligible to compete at a specific level of competition. Team members
shall not have a higher NTRP rating than the maximum NTRP rating of the level
in which they are competing. The section association may limit the number of
players that appear on a team roster and the number of players on that roster
that are at a specific NTRP level. For 2.0, 2.5 and 5.0 levels, a team consists
of a minimum of 5 players. For Seniors, a team consists of a minimum of 6
players. (This regulation applies to all teams and must be met by the published
local league initial roster deadline date.) Exceptions may be given by the
Kentucky Adult League Committee (ALC).
H. LOCAL
TEAM ENTRIES/PLAYER PARTICIPATION
1. Local Leagues may limit the maximum number
of players on a roster. This number must be published in the Local League
Regulations. STA 3.01 B
2. Each local league shall accept entry to teams
of which the majority of the players are comprised of team members from another
area. A local league cannot reject a player from another area.
3. The team winning the majority of individual
matches shall be awarded one team point. STA
3.01 H (2)
4. Any Local League divided into flights must
establish playoff regulations and the format for determination of local league
winners. Playoff regulations must be published prior to start of the league
season.
5. Local Leagues shall determine the procedures
and/or penalties if a team forfeits an entire team match during Local League
play and must be included in Local League Regulations. STA 3.01 H (2)
6. Local Leagues shall determine the procedures
for rescheduling of team matches including inclement weather procedures.
7. Scores must be reported in TennisLink within
48 hours of the completed team match.
After match scores have been entered on TennisLink, they must be
confirmed by the opposing team within 48 hours of the initial entry or the
initial score will automatically be considered valid. Local Leagues may determine any penalty for a
team not adhering to these guidelines. USTA
1.05
8. A player may play at their actual NTRP level
and one NTRP level up in a local league provided his/her rating does not exceed
the rating at that level. Limits may not be imposed
on the number or percentage of players that can play up on a team, except by
special request submitted to and approved by the State Adult League Committee. STA
3.01 H (5) b (ex. Player rated 3.5 may play 3.5 and 4.0, but not 4.5)
9. A player may play on more than one team
within a division in the same season provided it is in separate local leagues. STA 3.01 H (5) c.
10.
11. Last day of play
for the Adult USTA League Tennis season is May 28,
2009. Last day of play for the Senior USTA League Tennis season is May 8, 2009.
I. APPEAL
PROCESS:
NTRP Appeals for computer rated players may
be submitted throughout the year in the “Find a Rating” area of Tennis Link. This appeal is
granted based on mathematical criteria established by USTA and is automatically
denied or granted based on a player’s computer rating. If a players computer rating appeal is
granted (up or down), that rating will be used for all future registrations
until a new rating is published. Ratings
will not change on current rosters unless the player or captain requests the
change to the Local League Coordinator.
Players are entitled to keep the rating that is authorized at the time
of registration for any program through that program’s championships season
unless notified that the player’s rating has reached “clearly above level”
(disqualification) status.
Medical Appeal Forms are available on www.kentuckytennis.com
or from the Local League Coordinator. Appeals
submitted by a captain for a player will not be accepted. All appeals are processed by the
Medial Appeal Committee, and will be considered and either granted or denied on
a quarterly basis.
There are limited reasons an appeal can be
granted:
MIXED EXCLUSIVE APPEAL
• All players appealing, except District/State,
Section and National benchmarks whose rating is within .05 above or below
NTRP level will be granted.
• New player (self-rated) with 4 or
fewer dynamic ratings may be granted an appeal if it falls within .20 above the
level.
YEAR-END APPEALS
• All players appealing, except District/State, Section and National benchmarks whose rating is within .05 above or below NTRP
level will be granted.
• One year or older national benchmark
whose rating is within .05 above or below NTRP level may be considered.
• Any players except District/State, Section and National benchmarks ,
who will be 60 years of age or older during the league year and whose rating is
within .10 above or below will be granted an appeal.
• Year old computer rating that falls
within .10 above, if the next highest approved NTRP level is not available will
be granted an appeal.
MEDICAL APPEAL
• Permanent disabling injury or illness
occurring after year-end ratings were achieved.
• Appeal must be accompanied by an
attending physician’s evaluation of the injury and all other substantiating
information including the prognosis for recovery with a timeline.
• The Medical Appeal Committee shall
meet on a quarterly basis.
NOTE: For the NTRP Computer Ratings, if you are 59 and under, your NTRP
Computer Rating is valid for 3 years and if you are 60 and over, your NTRP
Computer Rating is valid for 2 years.
Adult
and Senior Division
Year-end
Ratings:
1. No benchmark rating
(District/Area, Section or National) may be appealed the first year received.
2. Individuals 60 years of age prior to or
during the league year and whose year-end
rating, Computer (C) is within .10 above
or below level and files an appeal will be granted an automatic appeal.
3. Individuals 59 years of age and younger
whose year-end rating, Computer (C) is within .05 above or below level
and files and appeal will be granted an automatic appeal.
4. These procedures apply to 2008 computer generated (non-benchmark) ratings.
5. No other appeals will be granted except for
medical reasons as authorized below.
6. A player with a year old computer rating may
request a reevaluation of his/her computer rating if it falls within .10 above
the NTRP level only IF the next highest approved NTRP level is not available.
Mixed Doubles
Division
Medical
Appeal
Permanent injury or
debilitating condition:
Players may appeal their rating due to a permanent disabling injury or illness using the following criteria:
1. Must have occurred after the year-end rating
was achieved.
2. Must submit NTRP appeal form and USTA
Kentucky Medical Form.
3. Must be accompanied by an attending physician’s evaluation of the injury and all other substantiating
information including the prognosis for recovery with a timeline.
4. All medical
appeals will be reviewed first by a section-appointed review committee and, if
deemed a permanently disabling injury or illness, will be forwarded to the
National Medical Review Committee for a final decision.
5. Medical appeal of a National benchmark must
be submitted through the section to the National League Administrator for
decision.
J. NTRP
DISQUALIFICATION AND APPEAL PROCEDURES
1. No dynamic
disqualification of Year-end Computer (C) or Benchmark (B) players.
2. Players
who can be dynamically disqualified include NTRP published level followed by
(A) appeal-all, (S) self-rated, (M) Mixed Exclusive, (T) Tournament Exclusive,
(D) Dynamic rating-usually an Early Start Rating moved down in the Adult and
Senior divisions through the Section Championships.
3. NTRP Disqualification Appeals are considered
based solely on missing or incorrect information.
K. TENNISLINK
1. All players are required to register for
Local League play in
2. For any team in which a player is deleted
from the roster more than 45 days after initial registration, the captain must
submit the reason for removal in writing to the Local League Coordinator, who
will then submit the statement to the SLC for approval. The SLC has the
authority to deny reimbursement of registration fees to the Local League in
question.
3. Players promoted to the next level of play
are permitted to join another team. Local League Coordinators will provide
assistance in placing promoted players on existing teams.
USTA LEAGUE TENNIS -ADULT & SENIOR
L. STATE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. A team cannot advance to the State
Championships without playing a Local League.
2. Local leagues with the following number of
teams per local season may qualify to advance to the State Championships:
|
Adult |
|
Senior |
|
|
2 teams |
1 team |
2-10 teams |
2 teams |
|
3-12 teams |
2 teams |
11-20 teams |
3 teams |
|
13-22 teams |
3 teams |
|
|
|
23+ teams |
4 teams |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. The Tournament Committee will determine the
number of teams needed to complete the draw. If it is determined that
additional teams are needed to complete the draw in any level, a blind draw
will be made to determine which local league area will receive the wildcard.
However, the “
The
wildcard selection process is based on a draw which operates as follows: All teams eligible to participate in the potential wildcard
drawing will receive one chance each to be drawn as the wildcard.
The selected area for the wildcard may go to the 1st, 2nd,
or 3rd place local league finishers, if none of these teams accepts,
then the decision to offer a wild card for that area reverts back to the
Tournament Committee.
4. Teams should be expected to play on any USTA
approved surface at the Kentucky Championships.
5. Teams progressing to the Championship are
determined by placement after local league play. Local Leagues are expected to
send their top finishers. A local league may send the next team in their local
standings to represent their local league. Any deviation from this must be
approved by the Kentucky Adult League Committee (ALC).
6. A minimum of 8 team members who were on the
final roster of their local league team at the conclusion of local league play
must be available and eligible to compete at the Kentucky Championships. The
Tournament Committee can reduce that number to not less than four. For 2.5,
5.0, and Senior teams, a minimum of 6 team members must be available and
eligible to compete.
7. A $100 deposit will be required of all teams
at each Kentucky Championship.
8. Any team forfeiting an entire team match
will forfeit this deposit. Any team that withdraws from the tournament after
the schedule is published shall forfeit their deposit and registration fees and
a grievance will be filed against the entire team.
9. A team forfeiting an entire team match
during the Championships, without consent of the Tournament Committee, will be
subject to a grievance being filed against the Captain by the State League
Coordinator.
10. All
teams are expected to play all scheduled matches! Any team not complying will
be subject to grievance procedures. In accordance with USTA League Tennis
Regulations, any team forfeiting an entire team match for ANY REASON will
result in all matches of that team previously played or to be played to be
declared null and void. If all teams in contention for the Championships have
already played the forfeiting team in good faith, the matches stand as played.
11. All matches at the championship will be the
best of two sets and the Set tiebreak shall be used at 6-all in each set. In
lieu of the third set, a Match tiebreak shall be played (the first to 10
winning by 2). There will be a two minute set break at the end of each set with
no coaching. The Match tiebreak shall be scored as 1 set for tiebreak
procedures.
12. State Championship Dates: All dates and
Locations are subject to change by the Tournament Committee.
a. USTA League Tennis Senior Championship:
May 29-May 31, 2009,
b. USTA League Tennis Adult Championship:
June 26-28, 2009 – 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 Men and Women,
June 27-29, 2009 – 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
Men and Women,
13. Sectional Championship Adult and Senior
Dates: Adult Men and Women 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5, Senior Men and Women 4.0 and 4.5
on July 25-28, 2009, Birmingham, AL.
Adult Men and Women 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, Open and Senior Men and Women 2.5, 3.0
and 3.5 on July 30-August 2, 2009, Birmingham, AL.
USTA
2009
Richard Wimsatt, Chairperson
Jerry Groce, Past Chairperson
Esther Hubbard
Kevin Ellis
Cleo Meaux
Gerry Canter
Jonathon Amlung
Judy Anderson
Russ Coffey
Jill Smith
The Kentucky Grievance and Grievance Appeal Committee members will be
appointed from the Adult League Committee as needed.